On Saturdays during basketball season, the Thomas Lasorda Fieldhouse in Yorba Linda is scheduled as tightly as the runways at LAX.

Serious battles are waged across the two courts.

"Hustle! Hustle," fans shout from the bleachers.

"Pass it," they urge. "Look up!"

One boy, leaving the gym, complains bitterly: "They fouled us so many times!"

I'm here to watch a different league, though – one that is radically different.

I watch Trevor Lambert, a runaway scoring machine, decide there are too many players around the basket. Deftly, he pulls a U-turn and scores at the opposite basket. Everyone cheers.

And here's the thing: Every shot is absolutely perfect.

Nobody keeps score, although players get a thrill seeing the scoreboard change. Somehow, games always end in a tie.

The parents aren't shouting advice; they whoop and holler for every child.

And the buddies who shadow and coach these beautiful children go home bathed in sweat and an inner glow.

•••

For eight Saturdays during regular season, the Challenger Division basketball league takes to the court.

The baskets are lowered but excitement is high.

It's called Challenger because these boys and girls face challenges including Down syndrome, autism or fragile X syndrome. Their parents have learned to play zone defense in life.

Ranging in age from 3 to 20, the players are a mixed bouquet of shapes, sizes and abilities. But everyone can dunk, one way or another.

Five years ago John Christensen, who had coached his three sons into varsity basketball, thought those days were over when the youngest hit high school. Or not.

He noticed the city had no special education basketball league for children, so Yorba Linda Basketball agreed to let John and his wife Janice start one.

It's pure pleasure.

"They love to see the ball go through the hoop. The kids think they are Shaquille O'Neal."

Nobody is telling them otherwise.

You notice the adult presence right away. The league has four assistant coaches and each of the 15 players has a buddy or two. Christensen has never faced a shortage of volunteers.

He calls them the "secret sauce" to the league's success.

Each buddy encourages and coaches: Urging each the player to keep going or try again. Buddies give high fives, hugs, and even hold hands.

"It's fun to see them so excited," says Ali Maki, 22, a Cal State Fullerton student who has been a buddy for four years.

You might have expected Christensen to draft his sons to help when they were in high school, but you might not have expected that commitment to continue into college.

Mitch Christensen, 18, has been Sean's buddy for five years. Although he attends UCLA, Mitch still comes down each week to be with his buddy.

Mitch remembers how stubborn Sean was at first, noting he listens now and has learned as a result. Sean drills, and even dribbles, with one hand.

Michael Christensen, 21, attends Chapman University but he comes to Yorba Linda to coach Antonio. He's seen Antonio transform from reserved and quiet to outgoing.

"You can tell he's really happy here. You spend five minutes with him, and you can't help but smile."

In his homework Antonio writes: "I play basketball with Michael."

Brian Francke, an 18-year-old Servite High School student, thinks the program offers these kids a sense of purpose. Often, they are confronted with what they can't do; basketball allows them the fun of learning what they can do.

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